Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of changes in bond yields for lower income countries’ debt and for actions on global debt relief.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The impact of changes in bond yields for lower income countries’ debt will depend on the terms of that debt, and any new debt taken on, by those countries. Many lower income countries do not currently borrow from bond markets, external borrowing instead being a mix of commercial, bilateral official and multilateral development banks (MDBs) and the IMF lending, some of which is on concessional terms i.e. at subsidised interest rates. Those with the highest risk of debt distress receive grants from the MDBs. The Government will continue to work with its international partners in the Paris Club and the G20 to urgently address debt vulnerabilities in low-income countries.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the impact of unstaffed petrol stations which require a bank account to have a particular balance to buy petrol on people with low incomes.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Previously, when using a self-service pump at a petrol station, a customer would have £1 temporarily deducted from their bank account as a form of pre-authorisation to confirm that their card was valid. Under this system, customers might wait up to three days for their account to accurately reflect the money spent to fill up their tank, and to have the £1 recredited. This could make budgeting and managing finances challenging and risk customers filling up without sufficient funds.
Under new industry-led rules, pump payment terminals now verify with the customer’s bank that the funds to pay for petrol are available before they begin filling their tank. This can be up to £120 in value, although individual retailers may institute a lower amount. If a customer’s bank balance is below the set amount, they are able to purchase fuel, but only an amount equivalent to their bank balance. The customer’s balance should now also update immediately to reflect the amount of petrol purchased. These new rules ensure that customers can purchase the fuel they need with the funds available to them, whilst also protecting retailers.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will increase mileage rates for public sector workers using their own vehicles for work.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee’s expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle.
AMAPs are intended to create administrative simplicity and certainty by using an average rate, which reflects vehicle running costs including fuel, servicing and depreciation. Fuel is therefore only one component. As an average, it will necessarily be more suitable for some drivers than others. This may vary across sector.
The AMAP rate is advisory and employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. It is therefore ultimately up to employers, including public sector organisations, to determine the rate at which they reimburse their employees. Employees who receive less than the AMAP rate can claim tax relief on the difference. Employees who receive more will be taxed on the difference.
Like all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps the AMAP rate under review.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will increase financial support to people living with Huntington's disease during winter 2022.
Answered by John Glen
The Government understands that people across the UK and especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as those suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter and the next, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
If individuals have extra-costs arising from their Huntington’s disease, then they may qualify for disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as PIP, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help disabled people with the rising cost of living. The DWP has already processed around 6 million such payments.
A one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment is also being delivered to those on means-tested benefits. Individuals who have limited ability to work because of their health condition, and are in receipt of means-tested benefits such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the Universal Credit Health top up, are eligible for this support.
Those living with a long-term health condition, such as Huntington’s disease, can also benefit from other forms of non-means-tested support which the Government is providing to assist with UK households’ energy bills. We have taken decisive action to support millions of households and businesses with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee. In addition to the Energy Price Guarantee, millions of the most vulnerable households will receive further support this year through the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme. The £150 Council Tax rebate will also mean that all households in Council Tax bands A-D will receive a rebate, which will be delivered by Local Authorities. Lastly, to support households who need further help or who are not eligible for elements of the wider package of support, the Government is also providing an extra £500 million of local support to help with the cost of essentials, via the Household Support Fund.
We are continuing to keep the situation under review and are focusing support on the most vulnerable whilst ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value of LNG trans-shipments from the UK to the European Union has been in each of the last 24 months.
Answered by Richard Fuller - Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria.
HMRC does not collect data on transhipments to the EU
The total value of Liquefied Natural Gas, falling within commodity code 27 1111 00, exported from the UK to the EU over the last 24 months, is displayed in the attached.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the terms of sanctions that apply to Roman Abramovich on Chelsea FC, whether the that football club can pay invoices due for payment to suppliers of services.
Answered by John Glen
The licence permits Chelsea FC to make payments to third parties in respect of prior obligations, including contracts signed before 10 March 2022, except where those payments would be made to Roman Abramovich or another designated person.
Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to give further education corporations the same VAT status as Multi Academy Trusts and 16 to 19 Free Schools.
Answered by Lucy Frazer
Under UK VAT rules, the supply of education is outside the scope of VAT, as a non-business activity, if provided without a charge. When a charge is applied, it is exempt from VAT if provided by certain eligible bodies, usually not-for-profit. This includes universities, sixth form colleges, further education colleges, and other educational providers that comply with regulations set by the UK Government.Local Authority maintained schools, as well as voluntary controlled, community, and foundation schools are all able to reclaim any VAT incurred on the costs of the provision of education through a refund scheme provided under section 33B of the VAT Act 1994. This ensures that the burden of VAT does not otherwise fall on local taxation.
Academies and free schools are also covered by the VAT refund scheme; this is to ensure that institutions leaving Local Authority control are not at a financial disadvantage due to their change in status.
Sixth form colleges and further education colleges are not included in the section 33B refund scheme. Like many other providers of public services, they are expected to cover their VAT costs from their funding allocations, which include these VAT costs. Sixth form colleges have the choice to restructure as academies, enabling the recovery of VAT under the refund scheme, but many choose not to.
While the Government keeps all taxes under review, there are no current plans to change these provisions.